Rail passengers face above-inflation fare rises in the new year, with some ticket prices increasing eight per cent.

The biggest rises are on the West Coast Main Line, where passengers are helping pay for the #8.3 billion upgrade.

MP Peter Luff (Con Mid Worcestershire) said: "My constituents might be prepared to pay more if the service was improving, but that isn't happening."

The higher costs on the West Coast Main Line reflect the increased charges imposed by Network Rail, which operates the track and other infrastructure, on operators such as Virgin Trains.

Upgrades to the 640-mile line, which runs from London Euston to Edinburgh via Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Coventry, have allowed trains to run at 125 mph.

But some of the cost is now being passed on to passengers. A Virgin Trains spokesman said the majority of customers bought reduced price tickets.

He said: "Forty million passengers a year travel on Virgin Trains and the average fare is #16.98. Travelling on the West Coast Main Line costs an average of 17p a mile, and on the Cross Country route it is 13p a mile.

"A family car costs 44p a mile on average, so it is fair to say that rail will continue to be excellent value."

David Watkin, commercial director of Central Trains, said: "We’ve worked hard to keep ticket prices as low as we can. In general our tickets are still cheaper than other rail companies, and on average, mile for mile, still a lot cheaper than going by car.

"We’re committed to investing in our trains and stations, and we listen to what our passengers are saying. They want trains to be more punctual, more reliable, and more comfortable so that’s where the extra income will be spent."

George Muir, director-general of the Association of Train Operating Companies, said: "While no-one likes to pay more for their travel, we need the revenue to pay for the ongoing improvements to the railways that passengers expect."

Passenger Focus, the independent rail consumer watchdog, said passengers were being penalised. Anthony Smith, the body's chief executive, said: "Inflation-busting price hikes on top of high fares will make for an unhappy new year. If you now want to travel longer distance in the peak and don’t know exactly when you are coming back you will pay very, very dearly."

Passengers could still get relatively good value travel if they could afford a season ticket or can book in advance, he said.

And he warned that rail companies were deliberately pricing people off trains in an attempt to deal with overcrowding in carriages.

The cost of a standard open return ticket between Birmingham New Street and London Euston will increase from #108 to #117

Average ticket prices on Virgin West Coast services will go up by 6.6 per cent, while Virgin Cross Country prices will increase by an average of 4.3 per cent

It was also revealed yesterday that Central Trains will increase fares by about 4.3 per cent

A saver return from Worcester to Birmingham will go up from #10.70 to #11.20, an increase of 4.7 per cent

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